Mechanical pencil with step-by-step feed



31, 1948- s. M. CLEVELAND 2,448,356

MECHANICAL PENCIL WITH STEP BY STEP FEED Filed March 5, 1945 v 2 Sheefns-Sh eet 1 Aug. 31, 1948.

Filed March 5, 1945 ,s. M. CLEVELAND MECHANICAL PENCIL WITHSTEP BY STEP FEED 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 31, i948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANICAL PENCIL WITH STEP-BY-STEP FEED This invention relates to mechanical pencils and more particularly to lead pencils having reciprocating lead feeding mechanism.

It is the-principal object of the present invention to provide a mechanical pencil which will be simple in construction, easy to manufacture. and reliable in its operation.

It is a further object of the present invention toprovide improved mechanism in a mechanical pencil for controlling the advancing and gripping of the lead.

It is a further object of the present invention toprovide a mechanical pencil having fully releasable gripping means for ease of insertion and removal of the lead.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the annexed specification and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional View, enlarged, through a preferred embodiment of the present invention and showing the lead in the fully released position;

Fig.- 2 is a vertical" central sectional view, enlarged, taken on a plane approximately 90 from the section plane of Fig. 1, illustrating the normal gripping of the lead;

Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view, enlarged; taken on the same plane as Fig. 1, illustrating the normal gripping of the lead;

Fig; 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a, horizontal sectional view taken approximately-on the line '5'5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 isa vertical central sectional view, enlarged, taken on the same plane as Fig, 2, and illustrating the pressure release of the lead:

Fig; 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6, showing the advancing-of the lead; and

Fig; 3 is. a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on. the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

It. shouldbe understood, of course, that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from. the spirit of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the pencil in accordance with the present inventionv preferably includes an outer tubular barrel ill; having a converging tip H secured, thereto in any preferred; manner and closing the lower or writin end of the barrel Ill. The upper end of the barrel 1-0, remote from the writing end is closed by a plate I2. Thebarrel l preferably has a transverse abutment plate [3 mounted therein, at a predetermined spaced distance from the upper end plate [2, for purposes to beexplained'.

Stiiiening and guiding plates HI and: lmay be provided. secured to the inner wall of the barrel l ll at spaced intervals between the ends thereof. A central operating or impelling tube l6v is mounted within the barrel 10', extends outwardly beyond the closure plate 12- at the upper end of the barrel Ill, and is guided by the end closure l2 and the plates [3-, i4 and 15-. The operating tube I6 is preferably closed at its outer end by a suitable cap l-"I, removable as desired.

A partition wall l8 within the operating tube It provides: an interior compartment or space IQ for storage of leads for use in the pencil,

A spring abutment plate is provided, secured to the operating tube to and reciprocable in the upper end of the barrel H], a compression spring 21' bein interposed between the abutment plate I3 and'the spring abutment plate 20 for normally holding the tube IS in its upper or outward position as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, while permitting movement of the operating tube It inwardly or downwardly to-positions: illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7', or to aninnermost position as illustrated in Fig. 1-

The lower or" inner end of the operating tube [6- is preferably closed. by a suitable end cap 22 having slots 23- therein, for purposes to be exp ained.

Within the tip I l a plurality of releasable lead gripping fingers 24- are provided for normally gripping the writing lead 25' and preventing inward movement thereof. The lead gripping fingers: 24 are mounted on springarms 26' secured within and to the tip H.

The lower end of. theoperating tube I6 is preferably so located that upon depression or downward. movement: of the tube 16,. the end. cap 22 is capable of being brought into engagement with the spring arms 26 for separating the same and thereby partially or wholly releasing the lead gripping fingers 24 from engagement with the writing lead 25.

Within the operating tube I B a spring stop plate 2.1 issecured'in fixed position andfor engagement by one end. of a coil spring 28; the other end of the coil spring 28 being in engagement with a ring 29 slidable within the operating tube I8 and limited in its downwardmovement by the end cap 22; The ring 29 base pair of lead gripping elements or sprin arms 30 secured thereto. The arms 30 extend upwardly within the interior of the operating tube l6 and then inwardly into gripping engagement with the writing lead 25 for preventing the lead 25 from falling out upon the release of the gripping fingers 24 and for advancing the Writing lead 25. In order to move the lead gripping spring arms 30 out of engagement with the'lead, spring release strips 3| are provided secured at their lower ends to the interior of the tip I! and. extending through the slots 23 in the end cap 22. The strips 3| are of a length such that upon downward movement of the operating tube IS the lead gripping sprin arms 30 are brought into engagement therewith and are moved by the strips 3| to positions out of engagement with the lead 25. v

The mode of operation of the pencil will now be pointed out.

In order to initially insert the writing lead 2 the cap I1 is depressed or moved downwardly to its lowermost position thereby causing the tube I6 to be moved downwardly. Upon downward movement of the tube I6 the spring 2| i compressed by the plate 20. The end cap 22 is brought by movement of the tube I6 into engagement with the spring arms 26 and efiects their separation. The lead gripping spring arms 30 are also brought into engagement with the spring release strips 3| and are expanded thereby, permitting the insertion of the lead 25 Without any gripping thereof. Upon the release of the pressure on the cap I! the tube I6 is moved upwardly by the spring 2|. The lead gripping fingers 24 move into engagement with the writing lead 25 when the tube H is withdrawn and the end cap 22 is moved out of contact with the spring arms 26. The lead gripping spring arms 30 move into engagement with the writing lead when the grippingspring arms are moved from engagementwith the release strips 3|.

When it is desired to advance the lead 25 for writing this is accomplished by pressing the cap I! and moving the operating tube l6 downwardly against the force of the spring 2| but without moving the cap I1 to its lower limit position. As the operating tube I6 is moved downwardly, from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to the position shown in Fig. 6, the lead gripping arms 30 remain in engagement with the writing lead 25 causing a compression of the spring 28. The lead gripping. fingers 24 initially tend to a certain extent to resist the downward movement of the lead but are retracted by the engagement of the end cap 22 with the spring arm 26 (see Fig. 7 whereupon the spring 28 advances the lead 25 outwardly by' actuating the ring 29 and the gripping spring arms 30 downwardly. Upon the release by the user of the pressure on the cap I7, the spring 2| tends to return the tube Hi to its initial position and the cap 22 is withdrawn from engagement with the spring arms 26. The lead 25 is then gripped by the gripping fingers 24 and the spring arms 30 slide along the lead to a new position. The operating mechanism is then again in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The lead 25 may be repeatedly advanced as desired by repeated downward movements of the tube l6.

If, for any reason, the lead has been advanced too far the same may be restored by the user to the desired position within the pencil.

The cap I? is moved to its innermost position, thereby effecting a release of the lead 25, and the lead 25 may then be pushed inwardly by the user. The operating tube |B may be guided, in

' lead downwardly upon downward movement of said operating member comprising lead gripping elements normally in engagement with the writing lead for preventing downward movement of said lead when the operating member is in nonoperating position and for advancing the lead downwardly upon downward movement of the operating member.

2. I a mechanical pencil, a barrel having a writing tip portion at its lower end, an operating member reciprocable in said barrel, a spring at the upper end of the barrel for normally holding the operating member in non-operating position, lead gripping fingers normally in engagement with the writing lead for preventing upward movement of the lead, and means for propelling the writing lead downwardly upon downward movement of said operating member comprising lead gripping elements normally in engagement with the writing lead for preventing downward movement of said lead when the operating member is in non-operating position and for advancing the lead downwardly upon downward movement of the operating member, and a resilient member for impelling said gripping elements downwardly and overcoming the force of the gripping fingers.

3. In a mechanical pencil, an outer casing having a writing tip portion at one end, an operat: ing member reciprocable in said casing and adapted to be positioned for lead advancing movement, resiliently actuated lead gripping fingers adjacent the tip portion and normally in engagement with the lead for preventing inward movement of the lead, and means actuated by said operating member for propelling the lead outwardly upon movement of said operating member toward said tip portion comprising lead gripping elements normally held in resilient engagement with said lead for preventing outward movement of said lead when the operating member is in non-operating position and for advancing the lead outwardly upon advancin movement of the operating member, and a resilient member for impelling said gripping elements outwardly and overcoming the force of the gripping fingers.

4. In a mechanical pencil, an outer casing having a writing tip portion at one end, an operating member reciprocable in said casing for lead advancing movement and for lead releasing movement, resilient means in said casing for normally holding said operating member in non-operating position, resiliently actuated lead gripping fingers adjacent the tip portion and normally in engagement with the lead for preventing inward movement of the lead, and means actuated by said operating member for propelling the writing lead outwardly upon movement of said operating member toward said tip portion comprising lead gripping elements normally held in resilient engagement with said lead for preventing outward movement of said lead when the operating member is in non-operating position and for advancing the lead outwardly upon advancing movement of the operating member, and a resiliently impelled mounting member for said gripping elements and carried by said operating member for overcoming the force of the gripping fingers and advancing the lead.

5. In a mechanical pencil, an outer casing having a writing tip portion at one end, an operating member reciprocable in said casing for lead advancing movement, resilient means in said casing for normally holding said operating member in non-operating position, resiliently actuated lead gripping fingers adjacent the tip portion and normally in engagement with the lead for preventing inward movement of the lead, and means actuated by said operating member for propelling the writing lead outwardly upon movement of said operating member toward said tip portion comprising lead gripping elements normally held in resilient engagement with said lead for preventing outward movement of said lead when the operating member is in non-operating position and for advancing the lead outwardly upon advancing movement of the operating member, retracting members carried by the casing for retracting said gripping elements, and a resiliently impelled mounting member for said g pp g ments and carried by said operating member for impelling said gripping elements outwardly and overcoming the force of the gripping fingers.

6. In a mechanical pencil, an outer casing having a writing tip portion at one end, an operating member reoiprocable in said casing, and adapted to be positioned for lead advancing movement, resilient means in said casing for normally holding said operating member in non-operating position, resiliently actuated lead gripping fingers adjacent the tip portion and normally in engagement with the lead for preventing inward movement of the lead, and means actuated by said operating member for propelling the lead outwardly upon movement of said operating member toward said tip portion comprising lead gripping elements normally held in resilient engagement with said lead for preventing outward movement of said lead when the operating member is in nonoperating position and for advancing the lead outwardly upon advancing movement of the operating member, and a resilient member carried by said operating member for impelling said gripping elements outwardly and overcoming the force of the gripping fingers.

7. In a mechanical pencil, an outer casing having a writing tip portion at one end, an operating member re-ciprocable in said casing and adapted to be positioned for lead advancing movement and for lead releasing movement, resilient means in said casing for normally holding said operating member in non-operating position, resiliently a-ctuated lead gripping fingers adjacent the tip portion and normally in engagement with the lead for preventing inward movement of the lead, said operating member having portions for releasing said fingers when said operating member is in lead releasing position, and means actuated by said operating member for propelling the writing lead outwardly upon movement of said operating member oward said tip portion comprising lead gripping elements normally held in resilient engagement with said lead for preventing outward movement of said lead when the operating memher is in non-operating position and for advancing the lead outwardly upon advancing movement of the operating member, expander members carried by the casing for positioning said gripping elements out of lead gripping engagement, and a resilient member for impelling said gripping elements outwardly and overcoming the force of the gripping fingers.

SAIWUEL M'. CLEVELAND.

REFERENCES CITED Ihe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 381,612 Bussler Apr. 24, 1888 2,028,855 Winter Jan. 28, 1936 2,190,798 Morlock Feb. 20, 1940 

